Swimming-shoe.



c. VAGTBORG. SWIMMING SHOE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1909.

mm 11 1 v Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

nu Nana" PETERS ca. wisumaran, n c.

barren srairns PATENT @FFIQE.

SWIMMING-SHOE.

Application filed June 1, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRlSTIAN Vnornono, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swimming-Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to swimming shoes, that is to devices adapted to be secured to the feet of a swimmer to augment his purchase on the water whereby he may propel himself at greater speed and with greater ease.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the class mentioned having a pair of folding wings which are adapted to automatically spread with each operative stroke and to fold with each inoperative stroke.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device as mentioned which shall be of such construction as to avoid the danger of one shoe injuring the opposite foot of the swimmer.

A further object of my invention is to provide a swimming shoe as mentioned which shall be of simple construction and of low cost to manufacture.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Vith these objects in view my invention consists generally in a swimming shoe of the construction and the arrangement hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to' the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is the top plan view of a swimming shoe embodying my invention in its preferred form, and Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

The shoe comprises a rigid sole piece to which a shoe upper is secured, a longitudinal member secured to the under face of the sole piece and wings hingedly mounted upon each side of said longitudinal member.

Referring now to the drawings 1 indicates the sole piece which is preferably formed of a fiat piece of wood shaped to conform sub- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 24, 1911.

Serial No. 499,362.

stantially to the foot of the wearer. Secured to the sole piece, as by tacks 6 is a shoe upper 4: for securing the device to the foot, the forward portion or toe of which is cut away as at 7 to allow freedom of movement of the toes and to permit the escape of water therefrom.

Secured to the under face of the sole piece 1 is a longitudinal member 2 which is of greater length than said sole piece and preferably rectangular in cross section. Hingedly connected to the member 2, and one upon each side thereof, is a pair of wings 3-3 which are co-extensive in length with the member 2 and which have their outer corners both front and rear, well rounded to prevent the shoe on one foot from injuring the opposite foot or ankle of the swimmer. The member 2 is of greater thickness than the wings 3 and the wings are mounted so as to lie flat against the'under face of the sole piece 1 when extended, as shownin full lines in Fig. 2, and to lie against the lower portion of the sides of the member 2 when infolded in inoperative position as shown in dotted lines in the same figure. By having the member 2 of greater depth or thickness than the wings 3, the wings are protected from strain on the hinges thereof when walking on the shoes with the wings extended, the weight resting entirely on the member 2; and they further serve to brace the wings when walking upon the edges thereof which may be safely done when the body of the swimmer is partially or substantially submerged.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A swimming shoe comprising a flat sole piece of substantially the shape of the foot, a shoe upper secured thereto, a longitudinal member secured to the under face of said sole piece and of greater length than the same, and a pair of wings of less thickness than said longitudinal member and hingedly mounted uponthe same one upon each side thereof and equal in length thereto, the outer corners of said wings being well rounded and said wings being hinged to said longitudinal member intermediate its name to this specification in the presence of hei%ht sof as so llie fiat against the undeli two subscribing Witnesses. sur ace 0 sai so e piece When in extendec position, and. againstsaid longitudinal meln- CHRISTIAN VAGTBORG' 5 her When in operative position, substantially W'itnesses:

as described. JOSHUA R. H. Po'rTs, In testimony whereof I have signed my 13. G. RICHARDS. 

